When Ferne McCann appeared on This Morning to defend her decision to breastfeed her two-year-old daughter, she gave a voice to thousands of UK mothers who have faced criticism for choosing to breastfeed beyond six months. The backlash she has received for sharing a breastfeeding photo on holiday in Greece is part of a much bigger problem: our culture’s uneasy relationship with breastfeeding, especially beyond the first year.
It’s not the first time that breastfeeding has caused a stir this year . Karen Millen caused controversy when she called breastfeeding beyond six months ‘selfish’, ‘not normal’, and even ‘addictive’ during a recent TV appearance. Her comments were met with outrage from parents and experts and she was forced to issue a public apology clarifying she was speaking about breastfeeding a three-year-old and affirming her respect for women’s choices.
Extended breastfeeding continuing past infancy is not only biologically beneficial, but also backed by global health guidance. Yet the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. According to NHS data:
- While 81% of mothers start breastfeeding at birth, by 6 months this drops to around 34% (and exclusive breastfeeding is far lower).
- By 12 months, fewer than 1% of UK mothers are still exclusively breastfeeding.
So what’s going on?
Firstly, breastfeeding beyond infancy is often labelled as “strange” or “inappropriate”. These are criticisms Ferne McCann experienced firsthand. This is because of many current attitudes such as;
- The sexualisation of women’s bodies — Many people still see breasts primarily in a sexual context, making extended breastfeeding uncomfortable for onlookers.
- Cultural norms. In the UK, bottle feeding is often seen as the default after a certain age, while in many other countries extended breastfeeding is entirely normal.
- Lack of visibility. If we don’t see older babies or toddlers being breastfed, it’s harder for people to understand that it’s both natural and beneficial.
When mothers are shamed for breastfeeding whether it’s in public, past a certain age, or just breastfeeding at all, they face:
- Loss of confidence in their feeding choices
- Pressure to stop before they are ready
- Isolation from support networks that could help them continue
Ferne put it simply: “The main reason women don’t continue is down to lack of education, lack of support and confidence.”
What can we do?
Make breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding visible. Ferne is just one celebrity doing a fantastic job when it comes to doing this.
- Better education and support from the start
- Antenatal classes should include information about extended breastfeeding and its benefits.
- WHO guidance should be shared alongside UK statistics so families understand what’s normal globally.
- More visible support in public space. Strengthen breastfeeding-friendly policies in workplaces, cafés, and public venues.
- Encourage peer support groups where extended breastfeeding is discussed openly.
- We should also challenge the double standard If a child drinking cow’s milk from a bottle at age two isn’t considered “weird,” why should breastfeeding be?
Ferne McCann’s decision to speak out matters and not because every mother should breastfeed for two years, but because every mother should feel free to make that choice without fear of ridicule.
If we truly want to improve our breastfeeding rates, we have to stop the shame that stops women from continuing. That means more education, more representation, and more compassion.